39 RC LIFE HACKS That You NEED To Know
Vložit
- čas přidán 27. 06. 2024
- Check out tailheavyrc.com/ 📦✈
If you've enjoyed 39 RC Life Hacks That You Didn't Know, consider liking and subscribing!
What ones did we miss? Let us know! 🛩☁
Huge shoutout to @cwojcik_rc for helping write this video!
-----------------------------------------------------
Links:
Buy some of the LiPo batteries we used in this video with our affiliate link: rcbattery.com/batteries.html?...
Buy this season's Tail Heavy merch: tailheavyrc.com/collections/m...
Hang out with us on Discord: / discord
-----------------------------------------------------
Looking for more RC airplane content?
Follow us!
📱 Tiktok: / tailheavyproductions
📷 Instagram: / tailheavyproductions
Happy Landings! Fly outside the box. 📦✈ - Zábava
The flight Sim is the most under rated tool. Helps in so many ways, especially keeping orientation. Close your eyes for a moment and throw a control surface a random direction and then open your eyes to re-orient yourself. Real flight also has a feature for random failures, adjustable wind speed and turbulence.
Back when foam was something you used exclusively in your engine's air filter, CA and baking soda was used for balsa joints, to create fillets and fill gaps. Still use that combo today, recently for an internal antenna mod on my Zorro, to hold an SMA in place. Thanks THP for these tips!
I used something called micro balloons back in the day. Does baking soda actually do the same job?
@@Videolinquency Me too! Joints with both are rigid, but the MB's have flex in them and will fail first. Great for lightweight builds. And do not drop an open jar!!!
Wrap sewing thread around the end of balsa sticks then ca it. That will stop the ends of the stick from splitting. Good when attaching wire to the end of a stick connecting a servo to a bellcrank.
@@JombieMann This is something I did just this passed weekend - cutting edge Avatar HD VTx secured in a new twin-tractor on a foam sled help in with a dowel, replete with CA/Thread stopper!
I remember as a geeky kid using thread and epoxy to repair the nose bridge on my glasses.
In addition to the "fly the plane all the way to the crash" suggestion, if you might be about to crash, CUT THE THROTTLE! Seriously.
Good one👍
Not always. Often putting power on can save the plane
Retract your LG as well. Never remember to do that somehow.
@@lancevanvelzen4832or make smaller pieces. 😅
Often at the very least you might save the ESC, maybe the motor
The old timers at my local club can't believe I was flying a 80mm jet a month into the hobby, sims aren't 100% realistic but it was good enough to get me there. 4 months later I'm doing flat spins and falling leaves and installing my own thrust vectoring from scratch! If you're getting into it, USE THE SIMS!
Great first plane is a large chuck glider converted into RC. My buddy wanted to learn to fly so we grabbed 2 x $10 chuck gliders from the hobby shop. 1 and a half meter or 5 foot wing span. some old electronics out of some old crashed planes and he learned how to fly and we had a blast with some junk planes that flew great. And I always take mine with me for when a spectator says "can I try". I pull out the beater and let them have a go. It is probably more gorilla glue than foam now, but it still flies like a champ!
RC airplanes saved my life. Quads are cool, but fixed wing is my first love.
Ditto.
And helis, too.
I love my flight sim. It’s a great way to try things you’re not game to try with your actual plane first. I probably do 2hrs sim time to 1hr actual flight time. Always looking to improve my skills.
nice video. Use flight modes for flap settings in place of elevator mixes when dialing in flaps. Each flight mode has separate trim settings, this allows you to take the plane up and trim it out rather than deal with a mix. I set my plane up with 3 flight modes, normal (fm0), half flaps (fm1), and full flaps (fm2) with the flight mode switch being the same as the flap switch. I use a radio that allows me to "inherit" the trim from previous flight mode (e.g. fm1 starts at the trim of fm0), this makes it even easier as I get the bulk of the trimming out when the flaps are up and only have to make slight adjustments when I flip the flap switch. My standard procedure is to maiden without flaps and trim fm0 first, I then go to half flaps and trim a second time, and finally full flaps trimming a 3rd time. Since FM0 has it's own trim I can now switch flaps off without effecting the flight at all. This gives perfect flying characteristics with every level of flaps all the time. Way better than mixes!
We use our technique because it's the quickest way to do it without needing additional stuff set up in the background. We simply set the flap screen to which flap we want to mix in flight and then fly and twist the scroll wheel until it's in trim. Then, press the button in once, slide it right twice, press it again, and go down to the next notch of flaps. Repeat above.
Same idea as what you do but without needing an additional flight mode set up. Lots of ways to skin a cat!
What an awesome mix of real info and humor. The door for a building table is a great idea. I left the hinges on mine, and mounted it to the garage wall at the height of a rollaway tool box. I can remove the toobox and the door drops flat against the wall.
I fly my UMX Pitts with a 3 blade 5 inch drone prop. 8 minutes of flight time and it doesn't sound like a screaming 3 year old while going through the air and the neighbors appreciate that greatly 👍
Pro Tip #247 ..I store and charge my Lipo's in a small clean unused charcoal Barbeque from the Dollar Store. Cheap and effective insurance.
Flight sims are great ways to practice for muscle memory. I've been flying for 6 years now, but taught myself how to fly collective pitch helicopters on a flight sim, as well as practice flying inverted on planes or doing 3D stuff. If you crash, reset on a sim is a helluva lot cheaper than with a $1000-$2000 aircraft!
balance wires trick is genius
Flying Hack: Flapping is just Fapping in gusty conditions. Flaps are the most misunderstood and overused control surface in both full scale and RC. Yes, flaps allows the plane to fly slower, but slower is not always better and is sometimes much worse. Gusty or unpredictable winds require more speed for more control ability, so go no-flap in those conditions, where flying slower is counter productive.
Great video! Always write the CG in sharpie on the inside of the plane or mark the battery position after a successful maiden flight!
When you have crashed all your wings, raid your kids closet for chuck gliders! My daughters glider now has a kopilot, fpv and flys amazing for 15 min on a 850 3s
"switch condoms" got me dying
Kaboom I love the way that plain exploded
Flight sims are great for when you can't get out but have the itch, also good for trying new maneuvers you wouldn't want to test on your overpriced trophy plane.
A hack not mentioned is using clear fingernail polish on scuff-prone area of foamies (wingtips, bottom of tail etc) for added protection.
I took a Lancaster hobbyking bomber out of the box to check it out then a few years later sold as new open box.
More RC goodness from the folks at Tail Heavy Productions
I use a small rubber band to hold my balance and power wires together. When I charge the pack, i push the rubber band down to the end of the wires so the connectors are together. This helps keep the balance plug from ending up in a prop.
When I remove the pack from whatever I was flying, i push the rubber band down the cables so the band is against the pack and the wires are loose. That way I can quickly see which packs are charged or used.
Yessir
Tuck the balance port. Wow. So simple
I love your videos! I’m twentyfive years in the hobby and your contribution is amazing!
*Never ever glue a propeller back together.*
*You may find yourself in an lawsuit for simply suggesting such nonsence.*
*Let the Sunshine In...*
hair dryer - is easier to control temp and avoid being too hot, rather than hot water
audio message for every switch - so if you hit a switch by mistake or bump you know
what you hit
used equipment not always good - a used battery that is weak may cause you to crash,
that bargin plane may be a money pit (buying from someone you know may be better)
flight modes work better than keeping screen on flag options - then you don't have to look down or find roller
Many different ways to skin the cat! Do what works best for you. 👍
You guys crack me up. Well done.
Thanks guys, I needed that one today, keep up the good work!
I may be wrong, but I heard that charging Lipos to 4.1v instead of 4.2v per cell drastically increases their lifespan.
I've purchased things in the past that recommended only charging the included Lipo to 90% for Maximum lifespan.
This is true.
You miss out on about 5% - 8% of the battery's capacity but by not stressing it you gain somewhere between 500 - 1000 extra useful charge cycles.
Also a lot of (most?) modern chargers support li-Ion (lion) charging as opposed to just LiPo. And conveniently lion has a fully charged cutoff voltage of 4.1v but with the same CC/CV charge technique as LiPo. Just remember to storage charge them as LiPo though.
Good advice, erm maybe not gluing props but for as long as it works, lol. Was triggered by the dx6i getting hosed at start, was my 1st real radio, still have it and another, solid boy and can go US settings in UK! Not that I would of course...
Love the videos. Small note, dielectric is *non-conductive*. I've made this mistake a few times too 😄
No mistake.
That's the reason he said to use dielectric on battery connections.
@HciContractor right. He mistakenly said it's conductive. No biggie.
@@bradames3755 oh did he? I didn't catch that part. You're right.
At least he was using the correct product
Di-electric is non-conductive and does not improve electrical conductivity of a connection. Its purpose is to prevent corrosion and allow easy connect and disconnect. Vaseline, on the other hand prevents corrosion, allows easy connect/disconnect and IMPROVES the electrical connection. It is not, however conductive enough to short circuit between positive and negative. This was learned about 100 years ago and forgotten with the invention of the internet. Thank the vintage motorcycle community for this nugget.
Number 40: Be sure to watch Tail Heavy videos!
I did the Velcro battery checker thing for a while but now I have a small zipper pouch on the back of my tx with a battery checker, M3 hex key, bind plug, and a prop nut wrench.
25 yrs ago a friend and I were goofing around and decided to see how many touch and goes we could do in one flight. We each did 40 (nitro plane) and laughed our heads off. I’ve never had a problem with touch and goes since. I love them.
I would recommend NOT buying second hand when it comes to electronics, especially from places like e-bay, electronics can look ok, but be damaged.
This is always a risk, even with new in box stuff. Check buyer ratings and ask for proof of functionality before ordering. Plenty of ways to avoid it. We've bought second hand for years and it's saved us easily thousands of dollars.
Whistlindiesel on the other hand pissing off the faa 😂😂😂😂
Good stuff, thanks
Ayyye 4:47 that 747 is over here in Western Australia! Perth represent!
How random! That's my dad 😂
@@emmaherzfeld4347 Aye nice! Your dad is a legend! Met him a few times :) small world
@@emmaherzfeld4347 Cap 🧢
@@brodie.969 no cap
@@Plaguebearer666 imma need proof
Happy landings indeed. Phenomenal video
Rare Indian fan here.😅
I tried learning on a buddy cord and everyone said I'd never learn. I got one of the very first sims which was Dave Brown and it was all stick figure planes but it taught me everything I needed to know and I never looked back.
I miss Sam Shepards videos. RIP
Oh and the Lipo charging in a box........ Yea 100%, My parents lost their house to a RC lipo fire. Old battery, My dad left it unattended while charging. House gone.
Right on. Never been sponsored myself, so my reviews are never biased. I always felt good about that. Glad to see this. Good one. Now you guys can be brutally honest. 😊 or should I say more brutally honest!?
Another great video.
These are great!!!
Where is the part about increasing range?
Instead of having the flap mix open to set it you can just set up another flight mode and have it selected and just your normal trim button
Lots of ways to skin a cat! We use our technique because it's the quickest way to do it without needing additional stuff set up in the background.
Could you imagine how sick a history of RC Super Powers would be. If you know you know.
THE SQUEEGEE HOT GLUE TRICK IS AMAZING
Put your receiver in a balloon before water flying. If the neck it sealed tight enough it might stand a chance if the plane takes a swim.
Di electric is the exact opposite of conduct electricity. Dielectric grease is a insulator and helps keep moisture and dirt out this improving metal to metal contact
Flight modes for flaps is the best way for mixing, my next upload shows how.
We use our technique because it's the quickest way to do it without needing additional stuff set up in the background. We simply set the flap screen to which flap we want to mix in flight and then fly and twist the scroll wheel until it's in trim. Then, press the button in once, slide it right twice, press it again, and go down to the next notch of flaps. Repeat above.
Same idea as what you do but without needing an additional flight mode set up. Lots of ways to skin a cat! There isn't one best way.
If you are flying with 5 or more batteries, tugging balance wires between main terminals helps distinguish which batteries are used.
I use super phatic to install ca hinges now. Glue hinges in the control surface first. Wait an hour then glue the control surface in. Water cleanup, almost zero gap with full deflection. Way stronger than ca glue too
Toilet paper and ca work great for filling cracks as well
1:36 side note, I accidentally bashed in one of the blind nuts for the side force generators on a 3d plane. It would have been prevented I think if I screwed the bolts all the way in, instead of being lazy and leaving it partially screwed in.
I use circlpi pliers to ease apart ec3 plugs, that way no strain on the plug, solder joint, and wires.
Bugger circlip !!!
Awsome vid guys? Keep up the good work. I like ur vids sooo much better than flite test!!!😂
"More planes equals better" I need that on a T shirt.
number 40: always bring a trash back at field, so handy to recovery rc plane after crash😅
Especially if flying 3D printed plane
730 baby
0:30 you can also use a hairdryer
I get all my stuff off market place, a father snd son made a deal for doing work around the house for a carbon cub. Fortunately for me the kid decided to play video games so i got a like new RTF carbon cub for 50 bucks 🤣
Thumbnail looks promising
Yes
As always good video. Keep blue side up🆙🆙⬆️
Keep a spare bind plug and hex key in the battery compartment of your transmitter.
I have a bind plug permanently attached to the Tx neckstrap, by the plug's loop wire.
Please make a hobbyzone sport cub s2 a bush plane.
First Hack, Throw that Wreck-trum radio into the trash, and buy something better, you'll crash fewer planes.
2:15 I haven’t laughed that hard in my life. Fly safe, stay scale! (Yes I changed my profile picture)
Use your transmitter to block out the sun. Works great
You balance your props? I’ve tried flying my sport cub S2 with only one blade because I hit a fence and didn’t realize the prop broke
I glue a magnet to all my planes and use it to hold extra wing screw and the Allen wrench just in case
Great tips! Question for anyone...what is a good RC simulator you would recommend to use with Windows 10? I have a Spectrum DX8 radio.
Aerofly and Real Flight are both good options. Each has its own strengths and both are great. Never tried any free ones.
Nice hacks guys!
At 6:56 what is the model flying inverted?
What is meant in #12 about the surgical tubing? Am not familiar or how to go about that. (Could not tell by the 10 second blurb).
Yes, this video was a bit rushed.
Surgical tubing can be used as a prop saver band the same way that a rubber O-ring is. Cut it calamari-style and use it with a compatible prop nut & screws just like you would with an O-ring.
That said an O-ring isn't as stiff and would probably work better. And they don't exactly cost much either.
I didn't forget, I was just busy.
i want to get in the hobby, what would be a good beginner plane that doest cost a hand?
If I were you, the first thing I would do is find experienced modelers in your area.
Social media should help you there.
As for a good trainer airplane, E-Flite Apprentice is very popular.
It performs well and as advertised.
Be prepared to spend at least $300 to get this bird in the air.
Happy landings!
Also consider the Aeroscout comes with everything except battery for around $200
Hot glue my love
Good stuff guys.. If ONLY pilots would listen to #37, foamtac would need to reduce production by half... So many poor landings out there and no interest to practice..
What app do you recommend for air space check?
B4UFLY
And stick ball headed pins underneath your wings at CG - who needs balancing rigs?
What RC sim do you recommend? Are the free ones any good?
Aerofly and Real Flight are both good options. Each has its own strengths and both are great. Never tried any free ones.
If you don’t have a paper plate sun blocker, hold your transmitter up to block the sun
Oh man im always interfering with airspace
How does that FPV Freewing OV10 Bronco do?
Stay tuned!
mating your plane to flaps 7:03 🤣🤣🤣🤣...y'all crazy as F
Don't charge your batteries. ! ! Ever!
Use balance setting and learn what 3.7 and 4.2v mean!
You'll never have a fire.
If I don't have a pocket knife to balance the prop, like Mr. Harris (3:30), can I use my machete??? ...or should I only use that on larger planes?? Mostly, I've been using a chainsaw for that. 🤔😏
anyone got a link to the original video at 2:15?
Dual rates switch screwed me on take off.
Fly the rage p51
The are mostly rc plane life hacks then rc in general
Get knowledge about propellers. Never cut one rotating! Doesn't ever balance it! Don't repair propellers.
Or have someone hold the pie plate so the shadow is on your face.
di electric grease is non conductive
6:41 what plane is that???
Check out our recent video titled “Crashes, MID-AIRS, and RCTestFlight” - you’ll see more info there. 👍
@@TailHeavyProductions alright thank u so much!